Latest News
Pakistan confirms airstrikes in Afghanistan
Stating that protecting its citizens was Pakistan’s top priority, Baloch reiterated that there were “threats posed by terrorist elements to Pakistan and its citizens”.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Thursday confirmed that the country carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan on Tuesday night.
“Pakistan is united for its people. Pakistan conducted an operation in Afghanistan’s border areas,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, Dawn newspaper reported.
“The intelligence-based operation was conducted by Pakistan in Afghanistan’s border areas,” Baloch specified, adding that it was carried out “based on threats to the security of Pakistani citizens”.
However, the official stressed that Pakistan had “always prioritised dialogue in matters relating to ties with Afghanistan”.
“We respect Afghanistan’s integrity and sovereignty,” she asserted.
Baloch noted that Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies routinely conduct operations “against terrorist groups in the border areas”. “Preparations for these operations are made in an extremely careful manner,” she highlighted.
Stating that protecting its citizens was Pakistan’s top priority, Baloch reiterated that there were “threats posed by terrorist elements to Pakistan and its citizens”.
“Pakistan is committed to the security of its public,” Baloch said.
IEA summons Pakistan’s charge d’Affaires over deadly airstrikes
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on Wednesday summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry handed over a “firm protest note” to the Pakistani diplomat, condemning the recent airstrikes by Pakistani forces in the Barmal district of Paktika province.
The note stressed that the protection of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity is a “red line” for the Islamic Emirate and warned that such reckless actions would have serious and far-reaching consequences.
The Pakistani airstrikes, which took place late Tuesday night, resulted in 46 deaths and left six others injured in Barmal district.
Latest News
Over 2.13 million Afghan refugees repatriated from Pakistan
Officials say over 150,000 individuals were returned from Punjab alone, where enforcement efforts are being led by the Punjab Home Department’s Foreign National Security Cell.
More than 2.13 million Afghan nationals have been repatriated from Pakistan to Afghanistan as part of an ongoing campaign targeting undocumented foreign residents, according to Pakistani authorities cited by local media.
Officials say over 150,000 individuals were returned from Punjab alone, where enforcement efforts are being led by the Punjab Home Department’s Foreign National Security Cell. The campaign includes inspections of thousands of residential areas and hundreds of markets, resulting in numerous detentions and legal cases against Afghan nationals found without valid documentation.
The repatriation process comes amid heightened tensions along key border crossings between the two countries. Hundreds of migrants have recently been sent back via the Chaman crossing, particularly during disruptions at other transit points.
The Torkham crossing—a major gateway for cross-border movement—has faced repeated closures. Although it briefly reopened, local officials in Nangarhar Province report that it was shut again after only a few hours. Authorities in Pakistan have not provided a clear explanation for the latest closure.
According to Sediqullah Quraishi, head of Nangarhar’s Information Department, the crossing was opened temporarily on Thursday before being closed again without official clarification.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Afghan migrants remain in temporary holding centers across Punjab, where they are undergoing registration and processing ahead of their return to Afghanistan. The large-scale repatriation effort continues to raise humanitarian and logistical concerns, particularly as border access remains unpredictable.
Latest News
Human Rights Watch calls Pakistani airstrike on Kabul rehab center ‘unlawful’
Patricia Gossman, senior associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said available evidence suggests the strike hit a well-known civilian medical facility.
Human Rights Watch has condemned a recent Pakistani airstrike on a rehabilitation facility in Kabul, calling it “unlawful” and warning it could amount to a war crime.
The strike, which reportedly took place on March 16, targeted the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Center, located within the former Camp Phoenix complex in eastern Kabul. According to international agencies, at least 143 people were killed and more than 250 others injured, most of them patients undergoing treatment.
Patricia Gossman, senior associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said available evidence suggests the strike hit a well-known civilian medical facility.
“The available evidence indicates that the Pakistani airstrike against a well-known Kabul medical facility killing dozens of patients was unlawful,” she said, adding that authorities must determine why the site was targeted and who should be held accountable.
An employee of the center told the organization that three buildings were struck, including a dining hall, a residential building housing hundreds of patients, and a guard post. At the time of the attack, more than 1,000 patients were reportedly at the facility, many gathered to break their fast during Ramadan.
Human Rights Watch said satellite imagery and visual evidence show extensive destruction across the compound, with multiple structures either destroyed or severely damaged. The organization added that it found no indication the facility was being used for military purposes.
Under international humanitarian law, medical facilities are afforded special protection. The group stressed that attacks failing to distinguish between civilian and military targets, or those causing disproportionate civilian harm, may constitute serious violations of the laws of war.
Human Rights Watch has called on Pakistan to carry out a prompt, impartial investigation and ensure accountability if violations are confirmed.
Latest News
Torkham crossing closes again hours after brief reopening
Officials say the reason for the sudden closure has not been clearly communicated by authorities in Pakistan.
The key border crossing at Torkham crossing has once again been shut down, just hours after it was temporarily reopened, according to local officials in Nangarhar province.
Sediqullah Quraishi, head of information at the provincial Department of Information and Culture, said that on Thursday the Pakistani side allowed the crossing to open briefly to Afghan migrants. However, the crossing was closed again shortly afterward, leaving many travelers stranded.
Officials say the reason for the sudden closure has not been clearly communicated by authorities in Pakistan.
The Torkham crossing serves as one of the most important transit points between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its repeated closures have caused significant disruption, particularly for migrants, traders, and families who rely on cross-border movement.
-
Latest News5 days agoDeadly violence likely without dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan: ICG
-
Latest News4 days agoPakistan seeks Russian mediation to resolve Afghanistan tensions
-
Business5 days agoAfghani strengthens nearly 10% against US dollar amid banking sector reforms
-
Latest News4 days agoWorld must re-engage to prevent all-out Afghanistan-Pakistan war: Financial Times
-
Sport3 days agoAfghanistan squad hit by withdrawals ahead of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
-
Latest News3 days agoAround 2.3 million tourists visited Afghanistan’s recreational areas during Eid: Ghufran
-
Latest News3 days agoIslamic Emirate releases American prisoner Dennis Coyle
-
Latest News4 days agoAirstrike on Kabul drug rehabilitation centre sparks legal concerns
